Debussy, claude preludes for piano barenreiter verlag. Notice how debussy uses both extremes of the keyboard. Debussys two books of preludes amount to a revolution in piano writing, and reflect better that any of his other works the span of debussys achievement. The meaning of the title may describe debussys love for ornamental melodic writing. This album contains the preludes, books 1 and 2 by debussy, presented by piano classics, a label of brilliant classics. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy showing 14 of 68. Click subscribe for more beautiful music by debussy.
Images usually pronounced in french is a suite of six compositions for solo piano by claude debussy. Estampes means print or engraving, and these three pieces are musical depictions of particular moments at particular locales. It was published in 1910 as the tenth prelude in debussys first of two volumes of twelve piano preludes each. Get to know all of the debussy preludes with christina mcmaster this month. E major sounding pitch view more e major music for piano andantino con moto view more music marked. Debussys first book of preludes was begun as early as.
Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano debussy, claude. Claude debussy h18621918 by the time he began writing the first book of preludes, claude debussy had established himself as an important and prolific composer having already produced most of the works that history would label masterpieces. Claude debussys painterly preludes the subtle, elusive quality of debussys twentyfour preludes is captured perfectly by pianist paul jacobs, who plays them with a tolling, belllike sound. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano debussy, claude on. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude.
I provide the original scanned version and the filtered, because the filter does some changes smoothening, sharpening borders and some portions of the scan get lost sometimes when they are too small e. He was too good a composer to imitate debussy, although there are a few. Debussy preludes, book 1 download free sheet music. Complete preludes, books 1 and 2 dover music for piano. Claude debussy achilleclaude debussy french pronunciation. A descriptive analysis of the preludes book 1 of claude debussy showing 1 4 of 68. Steven osborne has already made a name for himself in french music with a disc of alkan and a profoundly moving performance of messiaens vingt regards.
He was among the most influential composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In french literary circles, the style of this period was known as symbolism, a movement that directly inspired debussy both as a composer and as an active cultural participant. I have one other schirmer debussy piano book and this compilation book was what led me to purchase this set of preludes. Unlike some notable collections of preludes from prior times, such as chopins op. Complete your debussy, walter gieseking collection. The two arabesques are debussys first major piano work.
This paper also includes a brief history of preludes as well as possible influences upon debussy and his compositions. Unlike previous collections of preludes, such as those of j. Debussy preludes book 2 free downloadable sheet music. Free sheet music l 117, debussy, claude preludes, book 1. Dressed in a chic tan turtleneck, untucked, but with a belt clasped around it, arturo benedetti michelangeli sits at the piano in an intimate studio in october, 1978. Claude debussys preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes.
Claude debussys performance of minstrels from preludes, book i, in the 1912 piano rolls. Krystian zimerman is a prime example of the modern interpreter who presents debussy as a composer of sense as well as sensibility. Publication date 1910 topics preludes, for piano, scores featuring the piano, for 1 player collection imslp. Both books 1 and 2 of debussys popular piano preludes are contained in this one sturdy volume. The titles are provided at the end of each prelude and left without dedication, with inspiration from impressionist artwork, literature, and nature. I did not originally plan to orchestrate all of debussys preludes. Each book was written in a matter of months, at an. Claude debussy s preludes are 24 pieces for solo piano, divided into two books of 12 preludes each. The composer made piano rolls of five of the preludes in book 1, and he was quite a bit swifter than jumppanen, as the following shows. The first displays the influence of massenet, the second is written more in the baroque manner.
Three years exist between the publication of the first and second book, with the former appearing in 1910. The ending of this movement is one of debussys best moments. Debussys colouristic masterpiece, a bewitching compendium of scents, colours and sounds. These works have been central to stevens repertoire for many years and he brings them to the. Although you wont find krystian zimermans ultrarefined. Ondine opens in an ethereal mood, but quickly turns playful and whimsical, with notes jumping about and swirling. Maybe i am a lazy pianist but i like editions that have some fingering suggestions so i dont have so much work to do. As he plays debussys book 1 preludes, you notice how effortlessly his arms, hands. These works are distinct from debussy s images pour orchestre.
He is sometimes seen as the first impressionist composer, although he vigorously rejected the term. Achilleclaude debussy august 22, 1862 march 25, 1918 was a french composer. Debussys music virtually defines the transition from lateromantic music to twentieth century modernist music. Along with maurice ravel, he is considered one of the most prominent figures working within the field of impressionist music, though he himself intensely disliked the term when applied to his compositions.
The first book 1910 proved to be his most successful work. Traditional diatonic harmonies have little driving force in these pieces, replaced by modal melodies and. Over the past few decades the way pianists play debussy has changed. The first book was composed between 1901 and 1905, and the second book was composed in 1907. The purpose of this thesis is to discuss and give a descriptive analysis of twelve of the twentyfour preludes written by claude debussy.
When you dont have any money to go on holiday, you must make do by using your imagination, debussy wrote, and the first two pieces in his triptych estampes constitute an exotic travelog. Debussy s do not follow a strict pattern of key signature. Here in his first debussy recording for hyperion he presents the two books of images. These compositions, while endearing themselves to both pianist and listener, also occupy an important place in musical. At one time his music was made to sound bleached and anaemic, but pianists are now ready to show it in much sharper focus. The paperback of the complete preludes, books 1 and 2. The three sonic pictures that debussy published in 1905 as the first book of his images are remarkably different in tone, but each stands at a distinct distance from the musical practice of its time. Again the translation, fairies are exquisite dancers, lacks poetry. Debussy links the 12 preludes in his first book not by a tonal scheme, but by means of a chain of associative mottos or titles which appear at the end of each piece and which may give a. They were published in two books series, each consisting of three pieces. As for his piano compositions, after he completed the second book of preludes the only. Chopin, debussy composed twentyfour preludes in two books 1910 and 19.
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